WATCH: UFC Launches Campaign To Battle Opioid Addiction

The Ultimate Fighting Championship began a new campaign on Saturday, March 3. Ahead of the UFC 235 pay-per-view at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the UFC launched its public service campaign to help fight the opioid crisis in the United States.

UFC president Dana White delivered the PSA.

The goal of the campaign is “to bring attention to the devastating effects of opioid addiction and help end the opioid crisis that has impacted millions of Americans.”

You can watch the full public service announcement below.

From the UFC’s official press release:

Last October, UFC joined federal lawmakers and representatives of other major U.S. companies at a White House ceremony where they pledged their commitment to combat the opioid crisis. The event coincided with President Donald J. Trump signing into law H.R. 6, also known as the SUPPORT For Patients And Communities Act. The legislation is intended to help opioid treatment and recovery initiatives, improve prevention of opioid abuse, and bolster efforts to fight deadly illicit synthetic drugs.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under 50, with two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths caused by opioids such as prescription painkillers. The CDC further estimates the total economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the U.S. is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of health care, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.